Travel writer Rick Steves is making headlines for a reason that runs counter to the typical narrative around wealthy Americans and taxes. The Edmonds-based author and public television personality celebrated Washington state’s newly signed “millionaires tax” in a late March social media post that quickly went viral.
His message, featuring a photo of him holding an American flag alongside a message about shared prosperity, drew more than 11,000 reactions. The post was shared by Governor Ferguson and the Washington Senate Democrats, amplifying a rare voice from the affluent side of the tax debate.
“A new tax on fat paychecks like mine was just signed into law in my home state, and I like it,” Steves wrote.
The legislation imposes a 9.9 percent levy on individual income exceeding $1 million annually. Revenue is earmarked for expanded childcare programs, free school meals for all students in Washington, and broader Working Families Tax Credits reaching hundreds of thousands of lower-income households.
The move comes after years of warnings that taxing the wealthy would drive them elsewhere. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos relocated to Miami in 2023, and Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz announced a similar departure shortly after the bill passed. Steves’ support offered a contrasting perspective.
Washington’s tax system has long been criticized for placing a heavier burden on lower earners due to its reliance on sales tax and the absence of a broad-based income tax. Steves called for reforming what he described as an “upside-down tax system.”
State Representative Brianna Thomas, a Democrat who backed the measure, acknowledged the historic weight of the legislation after a 25-hour debate session. Lawmakers were working against 93 years of precedent surrounding income tax in the state.
Senate Democrats echoed Steves’ sentiment, noting that “millionaires like Rick know that we all win with shared prosperity.”
The law’s future remains uncertain. Legal challenges are expected, drawing on a 1933 state Supreme Court decision that classified income as property. But regardless of what happens in court, this moment highlighted a growing conversation about tax fairness in Washington state.